Well, these good men, who live in a house in the midst of the high hills, keep some large dogs, and they teach them to go out to seek for those who may be lost in the snow.

When they have found a man, they bark till they bring some of the good men to them. Then these men, with the aid of the dogs, take the poor man out of the snow, and help him to their house, where they give him food to eat, and a fire to warm him.

One sad cold night, when the snow fell fast, and the wind blew loud and shrill, and it was quite dark, these good men sent out a dog to seek for those who might want help. In an hour or two the dog was heard to bark at the gate; and when the men

went out, they saw the dog there with a boy on his back.

The poor child was stiff with cold, and could but just hold on to the dog's back. The men took the boy in, and, when he was warm and had had some food, he told them that he had lain a long time in the snow, and was too weak to walk, and the snow fell fast on him, when he felt something pull him by the coat, and heard the bark of a dog close by him. The boy put out his hand, and felt the hair of the dog; and then the dog gave him one more pull. This gave the poor boy some hope, and he took hold of the dog, and drew himself out of the snow; but he felt that he could not stand. He then got up on the dog's back, and put his arms round his neck, and thus he held on. He felt sure the dog did not mean to hurt him; and he rode on the dog's back all the way to the house of the good men, who took care of the boy till the snow was gone, when they sent him to his own home.

THE LITTLE RAIN-DROPS.

win'dow

walk doors

pit'ter lit'tle be cause'

O where do you come from,
You little drops of rain,
Pitter patter, pitter patter,
Down the window pane?

naught'y noth'ing

They won't let me walk,
And they won't let me play,
And they won't let me go
Out of doors at all to-day.

They put away my play-things,
Because I broke them all;
And then they locked up all my bricks,
And took away my ball.

Tell me, little rain-drops,
Is that the way you play;
Pitter patter, pitter patter,
All the rainy day?

They say I'm very naughty,
But I've nothing else to do
But sit here at the window;
I should like to play with you.

The little rain-drops cannot speak,
But pitter, patter, pat,

Means 'We can play on this side,
Why can't you play on that?'

wom'en

Ten hundred years ago there was a king of England who had a son, whose name was Alfred. When the young prince was twelve years of age, he had not learned to read.

In those days there were few men or women that could read or write.

Now Alfred's mother was able to read. One day she was sitting with

a book in her hand, and Alfred and his brothers were standing around her. The book had a great many pretty pictures in it, and the boys were very fond of looking at them.

Their mother wished that the boys should learn to read, so she said that she would give the book with the pretty pictures to the one who should learn to read first. Alfred took great pains to learn, and he was soon able to read the whole of the book to his mother. His mother then gave Alfred the book to himself, and you may be sure that he was very proud of his prize.

After this Alfred learned to write. He also got by heart the songs which old men called minstrels sang and played on the harp. He sang these songs to his mother, who loved to hear him sing and play.

He

When Alfred grew up to be a man, he became king of England. was so wise and did so much good to the land, that he has ever since been called Alfred the Great.